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Collectibles and Curiosities For Sale
Period: 1930s
Period: 1940s
Ships Engine Room Telegraph by Bendix
Located in Norwell, MA
Very heavy and loud ship engine room telegraph. With brass faceplate displaying ships commands including ahead and astern, full, half and slow, standby and...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Long Line Tuna Reel
Located in Norwell, MA
Vintage industrial tuna reel from Simplex Foundry and Machine Works LTD., Victoria British Columbia. With three reels, two rigged with wire. Quite a piece of gear. This has been meti...
Category

1930s Canadian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Pair of Philip & Son Globes, circa 1946
Located in London, GB
A wonderful set of Terrestrial and Celestial 12 inch globes by George Philip and Son. Presented on brass inclined plain mounts attached to original turned ebonized wooden bases and uprights with axes secured at the top by brass acorn finials. Unusually, the terrestrial globe has a copyright date shown under the cartouche, 1946. The celestial globe is printed in beige against a dark blue background and shows the constellations and many named stars. Solid lines connect the stars within constellations rather than illustrating them as mythological and other figures.? A cartouche is present that includes the title and maker's address. When looking at the stars from Earth the viewpoint is effectively inside a celestial sphere. The surface of a celestial globe shows the star field as a projection viewed from the outside and is therefore reversed, with the constellations appearing as their mirror images. The terrestrial globe is printed in several colours and comprises of twelve coated lithographic paper gores with polar calottes over a twelve inch card sphere. The age of the globe has been confirmed by the political borders and named cities displayed. The globe is nicely detailed and has a grid network of parallels and meridians. It shows all the continents and countries as they were at the time it was printed and also indicates all the principal steamship routes with distances in nautical miles. The globe also has a printed Analemma - a diagram showing the declination of the Sun for every day in the year and the equation of time. The Analemma therefore shows the position of the Sun in the sky as seen from a fixed location on Earth at the same mean solar time, as the sun's position varies over the course of a year. A cartouche is present that includes the title and maker's address. Dimensions of each globe: 30.5 cm/12 inches (diameter) x 59 cm/23 1/4 inches (max height). George Philip, (1800–1882) was a cartographer and map publisher. He founded George Philip & Sons in 1834 in Liverpool primarily as a bookseller and stationer, but rapidly expanding to become a publisher of primarily maps, atlases and educational works. He had one son, also George (1823–1902), who was admitted to the business in 1848. George senior was born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire and by 1819 he had become assistant to the Liverpool bookseller, William Grapel before going on to start his own business. He used cartographers (such as John Bartholomew the elder, August Petermann, and William Hughes) to produce maps on copper plates. Philip then had these printed and hand-coloured by his women tinters. The business expanded rapidly and by the time he produced his county maps of 1862 he was using machine...
Category

1940s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Vintage Willow Cricket Bat
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Wellington Cricket bat. A good willow cricket bat stamped 'TRADE MARK WELLINGTON' with the Wellington trade mark on the shoulders of the bat. The embossin...
Category

1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Willow

Large Vintage Brown Leather Medicine Ball, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
Original vintage heavy leather training ball with beautiful patina. The ball is made of handstitched genuine leather in former Czechoslovakia in the 1930s. It can be used as an origi...
Category

1930s Czech Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

PH Grand Piano Vintage Model 'mid 1930's' by Poul Henningsen, Modern, Sculptural
Located in Copenhagen, DK
This PH Grand Piano, from around the mid 1930's is an excellent-conditioned vintage instrument. It was in 1930 that this instrument was first designed b...
Category

1930s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Chrome

Lonsdale Library Equestrian Book
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Horsemanship - The Way Of A Man With A Horse, Lonsdale Library Book. One of the volumes from Lonsdale Library, Horsemanship - The Way Of A Man With A Horse. The book with over ninety illustrations, the first is of The Right Hon. The Earl of Lonsdale on 'Marble'. The Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games & Pastimes, Editors The Right Hon. The Earl of Lonsdale, Sir Theodore Cook & Mr. Eric Parker...
Category

1930s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Large Steamship Funnel
Located in Norwell, MA
Incredibly decorative and huge ships ventilator funnel. Painted white with red interior. Also has a red steel screen. Fitted with three handles. Weight: 140 lbs Overall Dimension...
Category

1940s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Aristitde Maillol Illustrated: Daphnis & Chloe
By Aristide Maillol 2
Located in Middletown, NY
According to Eleanor Garvey "The Artist and the Book" (p. 122) this work is "perhaps the most harmonious of Maillol's illustrated books." Aristide MAILLOL, illus.; LONGUS author Daphnis and Chloe; A Most Sweet, and Pleasant Pastoral Romance for Young Ladies, translated out of the Greek of Longus by Geo. Thornley. London: A. Zwemmer [printed in Paris by Philippe Gonin], 1937. Limited Edition. 8vo, 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 in. (200 x 132 mm); pp. vi, 211,colophon,12; Copy 21 of 250 numbered copies on hand-made Maillol paper and SIGNED BY THE ARTIST on the colophon, with 52 original woodcuts, and 4 woodcut initials, printed in bistre; leading and bottom edges deckled. Full vellum with laced-in thongs, gilt lettering on spine, faint; pencil notations and tipped in label from earlier booksellers on inside front cover, edges stained on first 2 and last 2 blanks. EXTRA SUITE of 45 WOODCUTS in a separate vellum portfolio, printed in black. Fine copy in simple cardboard slipcase. Colophon: "Aristide Maillol engraved with his own hand the wood-cuts which illustrate this book, The text is that of Thronley's translation of 1657, revised and augmented. Philippe Gonin of Paris undertook the achievement of this work, and printed it on his hand-press, for A. Zwemmer, London. Paris December 7th, 1937", followed by MAILLOL'S SIGNATURE IN PENCIL. Garvey 174; Garvey Wick 22; BNF32393010 Condition: FINE An ancient Greek novel written during the Roman Empire, the only known work of the 2nd century AD Greek novelist and romance writer Longus, translated by George Thornley...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Parchment Paper

Comptoir Canoë Canadien Et Méthacrylate
Located in SAINT-SEVER, FR
Sur la base d'un piètement d'atelier industriel en fonte, monté sur roulette, repose solidement un canoë canadien, distribue par Manufacture Saint-Etienne dans les années 1940. Le ca...
Category

1940s French Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fruitwood

Exstremely Rare Collection Alcoa Aluminum String Instruments, Bass, Cello, Violin
Located in Buffalo, NY
This set took me over 20 years to procure.....Dont miss this opportunity!!!!Being offered extremely rare collection of aluminum string instruments,,string bass, ,cello,,and violin....... circa 1930s, all 3 instruments originaly wood grain painted, have been stripped and polished.. re-strung and set up, new bridge and custom (alcoa) tail piece, original ebony fret board, All play and Sound amazing. If purchasing to play, wonderful decorative sculpture, Pfretzschner aluminum bass In 1928, The Aluminum Company of America manufactured 50 aluminum double basses...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Rope Twist Carved Oak Nautical Barometer
Located in Norwell, MA
Early twentieth century barometer with porcelain face with merchants name A Black & Co., Nautical Optician, Glasgow. Carved rope twist case with brass bezel. Brass hanging tab. Nice ...
Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Solid Brass Ships Fixed Porthole
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass highly polished ships portlight with tempered glass. The glass has imperfections from years at sea. This porthole has been polished and lacquered. Weight: 16 LBS Over...
Category

1930s North American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

1930 Portable Gramophone His Master's Voice Phonograph
Located in Oakland, CA
1930 Portable Gramophone his master’s voice original covered finish. This 1930 Portable Gramophone is the real deal. It’s an HMV Model 101, part of a small collection of such classic sound machines...
Category

1930s English Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

British Royal Navy Ship’s Binnacle Compass
Located in Norwell, MA
Solid brass ship’s compass on gimbal mounted into a brass binnacle housing. The nameplate reads pattern 0183, and serial number 14313-B. The compass car...
Category

1940s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Coronation Flag, 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. Flag shows King George VI alongside Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor...
Category

1930s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

Grouping of 1940s Toy Robot Molds
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Graphic collection of assorted steel spacemen and robot molds from the 1940s.
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

New Parade Castle Film News, 1943
Located in Roma, IT
New Parade Castle Film News of 1943. 18 mm complete edition. Original slipcase. Good conditions.
Category

1940s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Bronze

Outstanding British Navy Submarine Binnacle
Located in Norwell, MA
Extremely rare “Faithfull Freddie” ships binnacle in fabulous condition. Meticulously polished and with gimballed compass, countless brass fittings. Rarely found brass compensating b...
Category

1940s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Liquidation of The Entire Stock of The NY Store of Yamanaka & Co., 1944, Cat. #1
Located in valatie, NY
Parke-Bernet Galleries Catalog, By Order of the Alien Property Custodian of the United States, Liquidation of The Entire Stock of The New York Store of Yamanaka & Co. Inc., Oriental Art, Part One, New York, 1944, 190 pages. with 939 lots. One of the three catalogues of the auctions held at the Parke Bernet Galleries in 1944. Lots included graeco buddhist, Cambodian, Siamese and Chinese sculptures and bronzes, Chinese porcelains, pottery, jade, coral carvings, pearl necklaces, Chinese paintings, lamps and screens, Chinese and Japanese furniture. The Yamanaka Company was owned by the seventh generation of the family of Ichaguro Yamanaka, who founded this worldwide business by opening a small curio...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

King George VI Coronation Flag 1937
Located in Hastings, GB
British Royal Family A Rare And Historical Royal Coronation Flag from The Coronation Of HRH King George VI in 1937. George VI (Albert Frederick Arth...
Category

1930s English Empire Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Cotton

Zenith 6-S-78 Tombstone Restored Bluetooth Radio '1936'
Located in Oakland, CA
1936 Zenith tombstone model 6-S-27. The radio is a spectacular combination of angles and veneers, with the iconic multi-colored and oversized dial. This radio is one of the large tombstone cabinets offering a full range 8-inch speaker and a tremendous quality sound. This model offers both Broadcast and Shortwave reception. The cabinet has been restored and all electronic elements have been checked or replaced so it operates without any issues. It has 1/8th jack input to use with a Bluetooth transmitter or any device you would like to hook up directly. This will allow you an unlimited choice of content which will allow you to use this with your iPhone, smartphone, iPods, or record player. Access your old vinyl, or log on to Pandora, Apple Music, or the playlist on your computer to provide the tunes and use the Bluetooth connection to bring the warm, bright, analog sound of a tube amplifier...
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Antique Vintage Kodak Glass Beaker
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage 1940s glass Kodak developer beaker. This amazing piece is minimal and cool, and features a large 32 ounce capacity for holding and measuring liquids. Used primarily in dark rooms for photo developer solution, this beaker would be a great gift for that avid photographer, or use as a very unique flower vase...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Glass

Johnny DC Comics Superman Chrome & Brass Table Lighter
Located in Van Nuys, CA
2-3/8" dia. by 2.25" tall plated metal table lighter issued as a gift from DC Comics to their biggest distributors in the 1950s. Sides of lighter feature ima...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

1930s Cast Saving Pig / Money Box Made by Swedish Gold Smith Olof W. Nilsson
Located in Silvolde, Gelderland
Absolutely beautiful and unique saving pig / money box made by Swedish gold smith Olof W. Nilsson in Kristianstad Sweden in the 1930s. This money box is beautifully detailed shaped ...
Category

1930s Swedish Other Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Post World War II South African Hebrew Inscribed Metal School Supply Box
Located in New York, NY
Metal school supply box sent by the South Africa Jewish Wars Appeal to the Wels displaced persons (DP) camp in Austria, 1947. Painted blue and white with the map of South Africa, and...
Category

1940s South African Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Savoy Cocktail Book Cradock Harry London Constable 8° Illustrated Orig
Located in Munich, DE
First edition of this iconoc, definite text on cocktails features highly decorative pictorial endpapers. The book is illustrated throughout in Art Deco manner by Gilbert Rumbold. On ...
Category

1930s English Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Machine Age Ribbonaire Fan Designed by W.O. Langille for Singer, 1931
By Singer Sewing Machine Co., W. O. Langille
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Ribbonaire Bakelite Electric Fan designed by W.O. Langille in 1931 for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Aerodynamic Design that pivots front to back to angle the breeze. Unique des...
Category

1930s American Machine Age Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Fabric, Bakelite

Lenci Hand Painted Ceramic Crucifix, Decorator Maria Balossi, Turin, Italy 1930s
Located in Torino, IT
LENCI hand painted ceramic crucifix, decorator Maria BALOSSI ORIGIN Turin, Italy PERIOD 1930s AUTHOR Maria BALOSSI Decorator at the Turin ceramic factory 'Lenci' from...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Ceramic

Iconic Limited Edition Fred Stein Photo of Albert Einstein
Located in New York, NY
Stunning large gelatin silver limited edition photograph; one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. One of only 450 in the edition. “In 1946, when Albert Einstein was in residence at Princeton University, Fred Stein...
Category

1940s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Vintage Table Top Apothecary Scale in Walnut & Brass, c. 1940's
Located in Deland, FL
A great design piece to round out your space. Vintage, unique and a rare find. Make it yours today!  
Category

1940s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Oak

Hand Etched Cylinder Table Lighter, Circa 1930
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Art Deco era Etched zigzag steel cylinder Lighter named "The Executive" By AR. Circa 1930, Measures: 3.5" tall X 2" diameter.
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Lonsdale Library, Fishing Book
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Fine Angling For Coarse Fish, Lonsdale Library Book. One of the volumes from Lonsdale Library, Fine Angling For Coarse Fish, with original dust cover. The book with one hundred and forty-eight illustrations. The Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games & Pastimes, Editors The Right Hon. The Earl of Lonsdale & Mr. Eric Parker...
Category

1940s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Plaster Hand Painted Traditional Figure of a Saint, circa 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Traditional religious hand painted plaster figure of a Saint. Originally stamped. Made in traditional Catalan atelier in Olot, Spain, circa 1940. Olot has a long tradition in the production of sculptures and religious imagery. The art and industry of religious statuary...
Category

1940s Spanish Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Plaster

1937 Stromberg-Carlson 228-L Console Radio Restored Bluetooth
Located in Oakland, CA
1937 Stromberg-Carlson 228-L Console Radio Restored Bluetooth. Stromberg Carlson was well know for its commitment to quality and their products are often called the “Rolls Royce” of radios. This outstanding set has been electronically restored and plays great, with awesome tone quality, on both AM and Shortwave bands. The cabinet has been professionally refinished using the proper stains, toner, and lacquer. This is an exceptional radio very nice size and beautiful dial. The chassis has been service and 1/8th input added which will allow you to use this with your iPhone, smartphone, iPods, or record player. Access your old vinyl, or tune into Pandora, Apple Music, or the playlist on your computer to provide the tunes and use the Bluetooth connection to bring the warm, bright, analog sound of a tube amplifier...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Large 1940s Vintage Industrial Apothecary Laboratory Teaching Scale Balance
Located in Lafayette, IN
Rare 1940's vintage large-scale teaching scale/balance. Scale stands a massive 50" tall and was originally used as an instructional scale in a Purdue University lab (hence the large ...
Category

1940s American Industrial Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Iron

Big Art Deco Original Advertising Promotional Poster Heater/Fire, 1930s
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s - suitable for framing - original, no reprint - good original condition with some damages, not seen when framed - jr.
Category

1930s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Early 20th Century Scratch-Built Clockwork Boat
Located in London, GB
Early 20th century scratch-built clockwork boat A brilliant example of an early 20th century scratch-built clockwork tugboat. Hand crafted from found o...
Category

1930s British Folk Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Antique Baines Football Trade Card, Third Lanark
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Baines football trade card, Third Lanark. A rare circular football trade card in the shape of a leather football ball. Made by the toy shop owner from Bradford, John Baines. Baines ...
Category

1940s British Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Gramar of Chinese Lattice by Daniel Sheets Dye, Harvard-Yenching Institute
By Michael Dye
Located in San Francisco, CA
This book was sold at auction by the Monterey Public Library as part of a large collection of books, formerly owned by the famous Architect Robert Stanton...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Virginia Woolf. the Years, First Edition, 1937 in a Fine Full Leather Binding
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: Woolf, Virginia. Title: The Years. Publisher: London: The Hogarth Press, 1937. Description: First Edition. 1 vol., 7-3/16" x 4-15/16", boun...
Category

1930s British Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Vintage Leather Cigar Case W. B Corter
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Tan leather cigar case. A fine leather cigar case inscribed in ink 'W.B. Corter. June 06'. A great usable item, will take maximum cigar diameter of...
Category

1930s Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather

Set of Two Vintage Compass, 1940
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of Two vintage Compass, 1940 Made in Barcelona, Spain. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautif...
Category

1940s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Italian Mid-Century Medical Laboratory Bed Brown Leather and White Metal, 1940s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century Medical laboratory bed brown leather and white metal, 1940s Medical laboratory bed with cream white painted metal structure. The backrest, footrest and seat are ...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Thorens "Excelda" Camera Phone Phonograph Player circa 1930s Very Rare
By Thorens
Located in Oakland, CA
This is an authentic Excelda portable gramophone, the portable phonograph of the 1930's that resembled the pocket cameras of that time (usually ref...
Category

1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Large 1930s Steel /Cast Iron Military Chalk World Globe Denoyer Geppert
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare c 1930 steel Denoyer Geppert military chalk globe. Globe alone measures 22" in diameter, Retains original patina. Age appropriate wear. Minor dents.(see photo). Original patina ...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel, Iron

Vintage Butcher Accessories, Measuring Tape & Pork Display Sign, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual set of butcher accessories. A solid brass measuring tape dispenser for measuring the chest/feed level (text in Danish) of livestock both pigs and cows and a 1930s pork meat display stick-in sign in zink or pewter. Measurements: dispenser: 5 x 2.5 cm, pork sign...
Category

1930s European Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass, Pewter

Go West
Located in London, GB
Original photographic production still for the American comedy Go West directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx and Harpo Marx. Thi...
Category

1940s American Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

Art Deco Advertising Promotional Poster, Theatre, 1930s / Austria / Wien
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s - Wieland Theater, Olly Polly - Hilde Haagen, Mizzi Freihardt,Menta Breuer, Ludwik Hussnik, Max Christian Willy Mario Neumann, - Karel Kostler - Schillins Wien druck jr
Category

1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper

1940s Vintage Vornado Antique Electric Powerful Metal Desk Table Fan
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1940s Vornado vintage antique electric fan powerful and silent. Art Deco era electric table desk top fan with modern industrial design. Has one ...
Category

1940s Art Deco Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Old Danish Police Club, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Authentic Danish Police Club used in service during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Its made from a thick rubber-like material, has cork stoppers that allow to adjust the clubs weight with s...
Category

1930s Danish Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Leather, Cork

Vintage Style Ski Photography, Framed Alpine Ski Photograph, St. Moritz
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
'St. MORITZ', a modern framed and mounted black and white photograph after an original 1930's skiing photograph. The frame is black with a burgundy undercoat, the glazing is clarity+ premium synthetic glass. Black & white alpine photos are the perfect addition to any home or ski lodge, so please do check out our other ski photos and winter landscapes. Prior to being a recreational activity skiing was purely a means of traveling from A to B through the snow, it only started to become the sport it is today in the mid-1800s. St. Moritz is a luxury alpine resort town in Switzerland's Engadin valley. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, has the Cresta Run...
Category

1930s English Sporting Art Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Paper, Wood

Modernist Brooch, Atelier Borgila, 1945
Located in Örebro, SE
Beautiful modernist silver brooch from Atelier Borgila -1945. Signed with maker's mark.
Category

1940s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Silver

Chrome "Lucky Car" Lighter Occupied Japan with Box
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Figural Lucky Car Automobile Cigarette table lighter made in occupied Japan. Condition is good with wear to the middle portion that pops up ...
Category

1940s Japanese Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Steel

Set of 5 Vintage Traditional Snow Measuring Poles, circa 1930
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of five vintage snow measuring poles, by unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa 1930. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age an...
Category

1930s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Metal

Fontana Arte Clothes Hangers Brass Wood Glass 1945 Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana Arte.
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Brass

Decorative Blue Marianne Brandt Avantgarde Bauhaus Letter Scale, 1930s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
An iconic light-blue sheet metal postal letter scale from the1930s in blue, designed by Marianne Brandt, executed by Ruppel Werke, Ruppelwerk in Gotha, G...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Sheet Metal, Metal, Iron

Pigeon Timer By German Maker In Oak Case
Located in Norwell, MA
Oak cased pigeon timer with clock face that is marked made in Germany. 7 jewel clock by Benzing. Keu is present. Varnished oak dove tailed box. Everyone...
Category

1930s European Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities

Materials

Wood

Antique and Vintage Collectibles and Curiosities for Sale

Antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities can bring whimsy and wonder to any interior. 

Decorating with old scientific instruments, historical memorabilia and vintage musical instruments, as well as other authentic collectibles and curiosities that can be found on 1stDibs, presents an opportunity to create a unique, natural history museum-like atmosphere in your home that can provoke conversation as often as it pays tribute to how far we’ve come in understanding our world. 

And bringing collectibles and curiosities into your space is actually on trend — Wunderkammern, or curiosity cabinets, were all the rage in Europe during the 1500s and continued to have adherents there and in the U.S. in the following centuries. Today, however, they’re experiencing a real surge in popularity and influencing how many interior designers are furnishing and decorating homes — combining contemporary with antique, scientific with tribal, earthly with extraterrestrial, Les Lalanne tables with Flemish tapestries.

The original Wunderkammern were entire rooms filled with objects demonstrating their owners’ worldly knowledge: A proper one included artificiala or preciosa (objets d’art); naturalia (such as skeletons, shells, minerals); exotica (taxidermy or dried plants); and scientifica (scientific instruments), frequently alongside religious relics and ancient artifacts.

Pay tribute to a history of rich and diverse musical traditions that have taken shape all over the world by decorating your home with a collection of antique and vintage musical instruments — with a little help from strong hanging wire or some wall hooks, vintage brass instruments such as a gong, French horn or trumpet can help elevate a home office or complement the efforts you’ve made to ensure a welcoming vibe in your home’s entryway. Bells or antique wind instruments can add provocative metallic contrasts to dark woods as tabletop decorative objects.  

Create an intriguing focal point with Georgian scientific instruments, such as stick barometers with mahogany cases or lacquered brass telescopes. These items stem from an era named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who ruled England in succession starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign, which lasted until 1837). Just as there was beautiful jewelry produced during the period that today is coveted by collectors, there is much to be found in the collectibles and curiosities realm too.

Wanderlust, nostalgia and a shared love of good design are contributing factors to certain trends in decorating — just as vintage trunks and luggage have reappeared as furniture or home accents in a bedroom or foyer, decorating with globes, maps or nautical objects is similarly rooted in the allure of travel and a penchant for the stylish finishing touch that collectibles bring to our homes.

Find a wide range of antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities on 1stDibs.

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Step inside the Storied Mansions of Palm Beach’s Most Effervescent Architect

From Spanish-style courtyards to fanciful fountains, these acclaimed structures abound in surprising and elegant details.

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